Arlene Phillips

Dame Arlene Phillips is a showbusiness legend whose extraordinary versatility spans choreography, direction, and creative leadership across theatre, film, television, and live entertainment. Honoured with a Damehood in 2022 for services to dance and charity, she has won multiple Olivier Awards including Best Choreography for Guys and Dolls in 2024, a Special Award recognising her theatrical career in 2023, and recently received the Freedom of the City of London. Her credits range from directing West End productions and iconic music videos for Queen, Whitney Houston, and Elton John to judging Strictly Come Dancing and choreographing films for directors including Ridley Scott and Clint Eastwood. Arlene equips audiences with inspiring insights into creativity, resilience, and sustained excellence, demonstrating how passion and adaptability fuel remarkable careers.

When Arlene Phillips collected the 2024 Olivier Award for Best Choreography for Guys and Dolls at the Bridge Theatre, she added yet another milestone to a career that has already transformed British entertainment. Honoured with a Damehood in 2022 for services to dance and charity, and recently granted the Freedom of the City of London, she has spent decades shaping how audiences experience movement across every major platform. From directing West End productions and creating iconic music videos for Queen, Whitney Houston, and Elton John to judging Strictly Come Dancing and choreographing films for Ridley Scott and Clint Eastwood, her influence spans theatre, television, film, and live spectacle. Her 2023 Olivier Special Award recognised a theatrical legacy that includes Starlight Express, We Will Rock You, Saturday Night Fever, and Grease, whilst her recent work on I Wish You Well at the Edinburgh Fringe and her role as creative dramaturg on the original London revival of Starlight Express demonstrate her continued creative evolution.

Arlene's credentials reflect both breadth and depth of expertise. As a director, she has helmed productions from The Cher Show UK tour to Lord of the Dance and Hair in concert at the London Palladium. Her choreography credits encompass West End musicals, major films including Annie and Legend, television spectaculars such as The Royal Variety Show and The Brit Awards, and arena events including Monty Python Live at the O2 and the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games. She has created movement for artists including Tina Turner, Freddie Mercury, Diana Ross, and Aretha Franklin, and served as movement director on plays including Alan Bennett's Allelujah. As an Associate Artist at Curve Theatre, Leicester, and through her involvement with English National Ballet's Dance for Parkinson's initiative, she continues to champion dance as a force for social good. Her work as a television judge and presenter has made her a household name, whilst her production credits reveal an entrepreneurial vision that extends beyond performance into shaping new talent and formats.

Arlene equips audiences with powerful insights into creativity, resilience, and sustained excellence. She speaks candidly about navigating a career across multiple disciplines, adapting to industry change, and maintaining artistic integrity whilst delivering commercial success. Her presentations explore the creative process behind iconic productions, the leadership required to direct large-scale projects, and the importance of collaboration in achieving ambitious visions. Audiences leave with practical strategies for building versatile careers, fostering innovation within teams, and embracing reinvention without losing core values. Whether addressing corporate leaders seeking to inspire creative thinking or arts organisations aiming to deepen their impact, Arlene offers authentic perspectives drawn from five decades at the forefront of entertainment, proving that passion combined with professionalism creates work that endures.